Two-thirds of executives plan to leave their current company, signaling a need to rethink succession planning and build stronger leadership pipelines.
NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / September 29, 2025 / LHH, the integrated professional talent solutions provider and global business unit of the Adecco Group, today releases its report reviewing the current state of executive search and transition processes.
View from the C-Suite: Executive Talent Strategies for a New Era, draws on perspectives from more than 4,600 executives worldwide and highlights the trends reshaping leadership, from evolving career paths to the skills organizations value most in a rapidly changing business environment. The report also outlines strategies for building leadership teams capable of navigating complexity, driving transformation, and creating lasting impact.
Nearly six in ten executives expect to make a career move within the next three years, indicating a need for organizations to future-proof leadership strategies with succession planning and talent strategies that retain and develop top leaders. The report offers actionable insights to help organizations elevate executive search as a strategic priority, build world-class leadership teams, and equip leaders to succeed in an era of rapid change and unprecedented opportunity.
One in three newly appointed executives says they do not feel confident in their ability to perform within the first year of a new role, and almost just as many executives lack confidence in their leadership team’s ability to perform. Of the executives surveyed, 30% also indicated wanting to develop new skills as a top-rated reason for their departure. Trust, support and the ongoing skills-gaps across all stages of talent development, including leadership, point to broader overarching challenges of continued vacancies if there is risk of underprepared successors.
At the same time, the skill set organizations look for in leaders is shifting. Technical expertise is no longer the sole differentiator, but rather soft skills such as collaboration, strategic thinking and communication top the list of must-have qualities. Executives who can adapt, inspire and drive transformation are in highest demand, underscoring the value of human-centered leadership.
However, technology is still crucial to understanding the leaders at the forefront of workforce transformation. More than a third of executives say AI and digital fluency are the most critical capabilities for leadership teams. Leading AI success across organizations requires senior leaders who can integrate the technology responsibly, aligned with strategy and scale across the enterprise.
“Leadership is being redefined. To stay ahead, organizations need executive talent strategies that identify and recruit leaders with the right skills and provide the right support, empathy and partnership they need to succeed in complex, changing environments,” says Nicole Gable, North America Recruitment Solutions president at LHH. “The executives who make the biggest impact are those who blend human-centered skills with the ability to leverage technology to communicate vision, drive results and lead with purpose.”
As the trusted leader in executive search, LHH connects organizations to leaders who bring expertise, passion and fresh perspectives. With a distinctly human approach and a focus on long-term partnerships, LHH delivers a boutique experience that creates long-lasting, strategic leadership outcomes from Executive Search to Executive Interim Management and leadership workforce planning from Talent Mapping to Executive Assessments.
To read the full report and learn more about LHH Executive Search, visit: https://info.lhh.com/gbl/en/executive-search
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About LHH
LHH empowers professionals and organizations to achieve bold ambitions and secure lasting impact through unique advisory services and professional talent solutions.
LHH’s full suite of offerings connects solutions that are traditionally siloed, making LHH a single talent partner for organizations. In a rapidly evolving landscape with complex challenges, we create value across the entire professional talent journey. From hiring great people, developing skills and nurturing leaders, to advancing individuals to the next stage of their careers, LHH makes talent a competitive edge.
We believe the future of work lies at the intersection of exceptional human care and innovation. Powered by science, technology and proprietary data analytics, LHH’s approach is crafted to align with business strategies and cultures, delivering powerful, sustainable and measurable impact.
LHH has a team of over 12,000 professionals, across 60+ countries and more than 50 years of experience. As part of the Adecco Group, we bring together global excellence, local knowledge and centralized coordination for thousands of companies and millions of people worldwide.
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To learn more about LHH, visit: lhh.com.
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SOURCE: LHH
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